My cat, Lika, shown above, likes to nap in this spot frequently, although she varies her choice often and moves to other favorite napping areas. In the following video, it opens with a discussion about fears in the nighttime while you sleep, and how it is a command of God that we not be fearful. There is much encouragement on other topics as well in the following 22 minute video, complete with many scriptural references. It explains what "the shadow of God" means, and how no evil can overwhelm you when you abide under the shadow of the LORD.
The above video is from "The Lion Of Judah" channel. If you have followed this blog lately, you know that I sometimes use that excellent Christian You Tube source. Lately, for my own edification, I've been enjoying the Lion of Judah Prayer Channel. I pray everyday on my own, but also listening to the audio prayers can be comforting. For those who never pray, or who just don't know what to pray or how to pray, I encourage you to go to the Lion of Judah Prayer channel on You Tube. Following are a couple of samples from that source.
Since the title of this article post concerns protection from God, the first prayer below is also a prayer for protection. In this 11 minute video, it mentions how "no plague to come near our dwelling."
Below is another 11 minute video; this one an example of a morning prayer.
On the Lion of Judah Prayer channel, there are also prayers for nighttime and sleep, as well as many other topics of prayers. Hope you check it out ! But of course, the main thing is to daily read your Bible and to have fellowship with the good Lord through your own private prayers to Him. That is the only way you will ever feel close to God and Jesus - by spending quality time with them. By doing so, you will find that a strong bond will form between you and the good Lord, because you will begin to know Him intimately the more you spend time with Him. Just like with a human friend; the more you communicate with your friends, the closer the bond between you, as you grow to understand their attributes and characteristics and the like. The same is true with the LORD. But some fail to grasp this fact and how important it is to develop a close, intimate, personal, loving and trusting relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
This is especially important NOW to be in frequent contact with the Lord in prayer- I do not have to tell you anything about the dangerous and evil times we are living in right now. You already know, especially if you are up in years and remember how different things were in the 1950's and 1960's, etc. Goodness, even 20 years ago it was an entirely different story than the way it is now. Not that things were perfect, of course, or that the precursors to what we see happening today weren't already in place back then waiting for the times and circumstances to begin what we now currently face.
We are living in the last moments of the last days of this Age of Grace, the Church Age. This blog has posted much information about the last days and the Rapture of true believers by Jesus soon, as well as other future events such as the Gog of Magog War, the 7 year tribulation, the Mark of the Beast, and much, much more. For more information on that, go to the "search box" in the upper right hand side of this page and enter one or more of the mentioned topics, or topics of other interests for you - such as forgiveness, strength, endurance, and the like.
[Juvenile Shama Thrush]
Some Scriptures for you :
Romans 8:32-39 tells us: (32) He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." - Jesus at Matthew 10:22
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And wither I go ye know, and the way ye know." Jesus at John 14:1-4
Let those Scriptures above sink into your heart and soul. The verses directly above (at John 14) should be especially encouraging as Jesus tells us that He is now in heaven preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us to take us to be with Him in heaven (in the Rapture of the Church - His Bride, true believers)- and Jesus' return is imminent, meaning it could happen at any moment! What a glorious hope!
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. " - Titus 2:13-14
[Angel Trumpets]
"He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them." - Psalm 145:19
Charles Spurgeon ( 1834 - 1892) was a prominent pastor in England, and who is still very influential even today among the clergy as well as everyday ordinary people , wrote an excellent devotional on the above verse at Psalm 145. Following is a short portion of it:
"Those who fear HIM are men under the holiest influence and, therefore their desire is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. ... God-fearing men desire to be holy, to be useful, to be a blessing to others, and so to honor their LORD. They desire supplies for their need, help under burdens, guidance in perplexity, deliverance in distress, and sometimes this desire is so strong and their case so pressing that they cry out in agony like little children in pain; and then the LORD works most comprehensively and does all that is needful according to this WORD - "and will save them."
Yes, if we fear God, we have nothing else to fear; if we cry to the LORD, our salvation is certain.
Let the Reader lay this text on his tongue and keep it in his mouth all the day, and it will be to him as "a wafer made with honey." - (end of quote).
It is a good practice to memorize several scriptures (as many as possible for you) so that - no matter where you are during the day or night and it is not feasible to read the Bible or you have no Bible available at the time -- then you may meditate on the Holy Word and be refreshed, especially if you are in an uncomfortable circumstance.
When the Bible speaks of "the fear of God" , for the most part it means to reverence Him, to hold Him in awe, to hold Him in high esteem, to recognize that He is the Sovereign of the universe, to give Him proper respect and to give Him all the glory!
We show that in many ways, but mostly by obeying Him and doing His will; by putting Him First in our lives. That of course means Jesus as well (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).
If you are not saved and have not put your full belief and trust in Jesus Christ as the Savior, following are some Scriptures especially for you:
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) - 2 Corinthians 6:2
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" - John 11:25,26
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !
The above title of this post ("Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?") is a direct quote by Leonard Ravenhill. It is on his tombstone ! Ravenhill lived from 1907 to 1994 and was one of England's foremost outdoor evangelists of his time. You may, of course, find out more about him on the Internet; this post wants to focus on his quotes and share an important 13 minute sermon clip by him. The sermon is blunt - he tells it like is - and to the point (which is what we need more of today from our pulpits). Ravenhill does not sugar-coat anything when it comes to the Gospel. Brace yourself for some very convicting comments (convicting to a Christian's heart if he is guilty of sin) in his sermon titled : "John the baptist: the spirit of a prophet". The sermon below speaks very little of John the baptist, and dwells mostly on addressing Christians and what they need to focus on - and more - and chock full of gems spoken by Ravenhill like, for instance, "The greatest sin in the world [is to say and believe] "I can manage my life without God."
It seems fitting to quote here, 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Wow! Talk about telling it like is ! The above verse clearly describes these last days we are currently experiencing.
Some of the other signs of the end times are spoken of by Jesus at Luke 21:25-28 as follows:
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And when these begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
I encourage you to please read all of Luke 21, as well as Matthew 24, and Mark 13 which also speak of the signs of the last days.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely said, " Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" - The Apostle Paul at Galatians 4:16
We are all imperfect and make mistakes; I am no different. But I endeavor to tell the truth. Sometimes a resource used and quoted on this blog may be in error, unfortunately, and when I discover it to be so, I correct the error or delete it. Since we are all imperfect, we should not judge others when they mess up at times. (Unless it is out and out heresy, of course.) We should endeavor to show them their error, and teach them more accurately -- do not judge them unless, that is, it is a deliberate and stubborn heresy, which is repeated often, and which purposely intends to deceive others.
Our time on this earth is short, especially now the way Bible prophecy of the last days is being fulfilled at a tremendously fast pace. And very many are being fulfilled all at once right now - a convergence. Jesus will soon return to take his followers in the Rapture to be with Him in heaven. Our blessed hope!
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:13
We should focus on things above and on pleasing the good Lord as best we can. He is our Judge. Jesus is our Redeemer. Our love and gratitude to the Lord should be expressed to Him always. Spend much time in prayer and in reading the Bible. That will enable us to know God and Jesus better, and we will find that our love for Him will grow stronger and stronger as we read about His love and character and attributes in His Holy Word. That, and as we pray several times daily , will enable us to develop a strong, close, intimate, personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus. That is what it is all about, folks! You cannot come to actually know a person unless you spend time with Him and communicate with Him; it is the same way with God. He wants to fellowship with us! God/Jesus is the best friend we will ever have!
Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Below is a 3 minute devotional by In Touch Ministries. It dwells on the topic "Unshakable Faith".
Two wonderful comments especially stand out in the above video. "When we abide in the Spirit, we have the power to endure hardship and suffering." And, "Getting to know God is easier when we approach Him with a humble and genuine spirit."
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." - Jesus at John 3:19-21
What if you are not saved, not born again? Following are some Scriptures for you:
About asking Jesus to come into your heart.... that is good. However, you must truly repent of your sins, and believe with all of your mind, soul, and all of your very being that Jesus is the Savior and the only way to heaven. Believe that He, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, shed His precious Blood on the Cross, and that by doing so, He paid our sin debt in full . He took our place at Calvary and made a way as the Redeemer for us to be saved and for us to have the hope (a sure hope) of eternal life. There will be a change in you and what you focus on if you are truly saved. When a person is truly saved, the Holy Spirit will reside within him, to guide and teach him, and so much more !
"In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." - Ephesians 1:13
Jesus, at Luke 13:3-5 tells us: "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
